GRE: The Graduate Record Examination

Introduction

The primary purpose of the GRE exam is to assist schools
in selecting the best-qualified candidates for admission to general
graduate programs. Schools also use GRE scores to determine eligibility
for merit-based grants and scholarships, as well as teaching and
research assistantships. GRE basically provides
a common measure for comparing candidates' qualifications for graduate
programs.

The GRE was completely redesigned in August 2011 to enable students to
better transition into graduate level work.
The GRE revised test measures verbal,
quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
Questions in the revised test are based on real-life scenarios to
further help students think and prepare for graduate or business school.

Also, the revised GRE offers a more flexible
test-taking experience in which students can skip questions, change
and/or edit answers.

Why Take the GRE?

Taking the GRE test is significant for students to
particularly plan for their career and attain future education goals.
Scores are valid for 5 years,
which means students can use their scores later if they decide to go to
graduate or business school.

There are two
versions of GRE Exam.

Paper Based GRE EXAM

Computer Based GRE EXAM

The student is given
the choice of taking
GRE Exam
on paper or on the computer.

GRE Test Structure

Computer Based Exam

Focus Areas

Time Duration

Number
of Questions

Analytical Writing

One section with
two separately timed 30 minute essays

Two Essay Tasks

Verbal Reasoning

Two
30 minute sections

20 questions in
each section

Quantitative
Reasoning

Two 35 minute
sections

20 in each section

UnScored

This
section maybe included, but it is not scored.

Varies

Research

This
section maybe included, but it is not scored.

Varies

Paper Based Exam

Focus Areas

Time Duration

Number
of Questions

Analytical Writing

Two 30 minute
sections

One Essay

Verbal Reasoning

Two
35 minute sections

25

Quantitative
Reasoning

Two 40 minute
sections

2

Tips to Prepare for GRE

Practice Tests:
Take a GRE practice test.
Students can download free practice tests from the official GRE
website or find online test prep companies and stores. It is crucial
that students time themselves appropriately to accurately examine
their strengths and weaknesses.

Test Prep
Packages: Students
should use GRE study materials like
the GRE study software package and materials from the official GRE
website or purchase test prep packages from websites and book stores
to improve their weak areas.

Write Practice Essays: The official
company administering the GRE offers a service which enables
prospective GRE candidates to write practice essays and have them
scored with feedback from the GRE professionals at the company. The
feedback from experts help students in evaluating areas of
improvement.

Prep
Courses: students can further enroll in intense prep
courses which are available online as well as offered by various
colleges that help students prepare for the GRE test.

Score

The GRE revised scoring for each of the three sections include:

Verbal Reasoning scores are reported on a 130–170 score scale, in 1-point increments.

Quantitative Reasoning scores are reported on a 130–170 score scale, in
1-point increments.

Analytical Writing scores are reported on a 0–6 score scale, in half-point increments.

The revised GRE offers a new ScoreSelect option in which students
can decide which test scores to send to institutions they target.

Fees

The cost to take the test varies between US $130 and $210, depending on the
country in which it is taken, although ETS will reduce the fee under
certain circumstances. For Example, ETS provides financial aid to those
GRE applicants who face economic hardships. Registration:

Test Locations

The
GRE revised General Test is
available at about 700 locations
worldwide, in more than 160 countries.
Access the ETS website to search for a test location near you.

Registration

Students can
register for the GRE Exam onlineby visiting the GRE official site or by calling the 800
number given in the Information and Registration Bulletin.

Requesting a Refund

If you cancel your General Test no later than 3 full days prior to your test date, you will receive a $60 refund. Computer-based test refunds will be automatically issued approximately 10 days after the canceled test date. Paper-based test refunds are issued within 6-8 weeks after the canceled test date.